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WASHINGTON — Nearly six in 10 Americans want stricter gun laws in the aftermath of last month’s deadly school shooting in Connecticut, with majorities favoring a nationwide ban on military-style, rapid-fire weapons and limits on gun violence depicted in video games, movies and TV shows, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.

A lopsided 84 percent of adults would like to see the establishment of a federal standard for background checks for people buying guns at gun shows, the poll showed.

Three-quarters of Americans said they reacted to the Connecticut massacre with deep anger, while 54 percent said they felt deeply ashamed it could happen in the United States.

President Barack Obama was set Wednesday to unveil a wide-ranging package of steps for reducing gun violence, expected to include a proposed ban on assault weapons, limits on the capacity of ammunition magazines and universal background checks for gun sales.

Many of the more restrictive proposals under consideration, such as the assault-weapons ban, would face stiff congressional opposition, particularly among Republicans.

By contrast, the general public appears receptive to stronger federal action following the Dec. 16 shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults.

Some 58 percent favor strengthening gun laws in the United States. Just 5 percent felt such laws should be loosened, while 35 percent said they should be left unchanged.

In comparison, after the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that 47 percent wanted stricter gun laws, 38 percent thought they should remain as is and 11 percent wanted to see them loosened.

Caroline Konczey, 63, a retired Navy officer from Indio, Calif., is among those supporting a ban on military-style assault weapons. “I can’t imagine why anyone would want one,” she said. “What do you do with that, unless you’re a collector?”

She suggested an underlying source of gun violence was the breakdown of the nuclear family and a lack of access to mental health care. “Until you strengthen the structure of the family that teaches respect for people, then this stuff goes down,” she said.

Specifically, majorities in the new poll favored a nationwide ban on military-style, rapid-fire guns (55 percent) and limits on the amount and type of gun violence that can be portrayed in video games, movies or on television (54 percent). About half (51 percent) of those surveyed back a ban on the sale of magazines holding 10 or more bullets.

At the same time 51 percent said that they believed laws limiting gun ownership infringe on the public’s Second Amendment right to possess and carry firearms. Among Republicans, 75 percent cited such infringement.

There is also a gender gap. Gun control is a more important issue for women, with 68 percent saying it was very or extremely important to them, than for men (57 percent). And women are more likely to back stricter gun laws: 67 percent favor them, compared with 49 percent of men.

“Military-style weapons should be military guns, not John Q. Public guns,” said Ellen Huffman, 55, of Huntersville, N.C., who supports a ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Huffman said early detection of mental health problems would go a long way to curbing gun violence. If such problems are caught early enough “you won’t have people killing people,” she said.

Among gun owners, just 40 percent back a ban on the sale of military-type, rapid-fire guns, and 37 percent favor a ban on high-capacity magazines, while 66 percent of non-gun owners would ban military-style weapons and 60 percent would ban high-capacity magazines.

However, 80 percent of gun owners do support federal standards for gun-show background checks, as do 87 percent of non-gun owners.

Gun owners lean more Republican than the overall public. Fifty-five percent of them are Republicans, compared with 30 percent who are Democrats.

Overall, 3 in 10 said the shootings caused them to wonder whether you could really be safe anywhere these days, up slightly from 25 percent after Virginia Tech, with parents more apt to react with deep worries about safety issues than non-parents.

And residents of the Northeast were much more likely than those in other regions to say the events in Newtown made them feel strongly that there may be too many guns in this country — 46 percent, vs. 35 percent reacting that way in the South, 30 percent in the West and 28 percent in the Midwest.

Max Lude, 70, a retired teacher from West Frankfort, Ill., said limiting magazines to 10 rounds “is probably the smartest thing they can do” to reduce mass tragedies. Mandatory background checks also would help, as would mandatory prison sentences for those convicted of gun grimes, said Lude, a National Rifle Association member and hunter-safety instructor.

“It’s a complicated problem with a complicated solution,” he said. “It’s not just a one-time, quick-fix deal.”

The gun control debate heated up after Adam Lanza, 20, shot his way into the Newtown school on Dec. 14 and killed 26 people before committing suicide. Lanza also killed his mother at her home before the shooting spree. His mother kept guns at the home she shared with her son.

The poll of 1,004 adults was conducted by telephone Jan. 10-14, 2013. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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"Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own." Jonathan Swift "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members." Groucho Marx

I'd say that the demographics of the "no regulation" group compared to the "some regulation" group are similar to the Romney supporters compared to the Obama supporters.

The paranoia demonstrated by the anti-Obama group after both of his elections has probably increased that groups desire to stay heavily armed, but it has also probably increased the desire for some weapon limitations by the rest of US.

Once again, the extreme right is saying "it's our way or the highway", the extreme left is saying the same thing, and those of US in the middle think that some compromise is desired.

I think that the extreme right's stance will further marginalize them, reinforced by their threats to impeach Obama for addressing an issue that most of US feel pretty strongly about.

The GOTP has about a 7% approval rating, and I guess they are shooting for 0.

I'd like to know what geographical area was targeted for the poll, the oh so conservative north east and/or north west? Surely not Texas or flyover country.

"The warped agenda of the liberals rolls on." You said it Mr. Chazbo.

All this is is a "feel good" measure because they're doing something, anything that has no guarantee of working. The liberals are either going to be very disappointed or will turn a blind eye when all the guns control laws don't do anything to curb violence. Wait and see.

"Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own." Jonathan Swift "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members." Groucho Marx

"Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own." Jonathan Swift "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members." Groucho Marx

"After all, Jesus was all for guns, killing, and driving those who disagree with one out of the state." RULE 4: "Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules."

"Goddesss! People like you make all folks who define themselves as Christians look bad. No wonder the GOTP is sinking so fast. Who but WWCCMs want to associated with them?" RULE 5: "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon."

"Feel free to try to kick me and those like me out if you dare."
RULE 9: "The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself."

"The far right response to everything: This is a biased poll." RULE 5: "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon." RULE 6: "A good tactic is one your people enjoy."

RULE 10: "If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive."

Well done gentlemen, sticking stoicly to Alinsky's rules, Uncle Barry would be so proud!

Obama is protected by security guards, and you can bet they have semi-automatic weapons. So are many members of Congress as well as those limousine liberals in Hollywood. So, continued hypocrisy from the left is the order of the day. As far as gun control, the NRA and other groups have supported increased and more extensive background checks for a long time, however Congress and Obama have implemented those just like they managed "fast and furious." This is another example of King Hussein's policy of never letting a good crisis go to waste, plus it diverts attention from his failing policies addressing the economy. Speaking of "my way or the highway", it was Obama who flatly stated he would not negotiate about driving the country further in debt and demanding no limit on the debt ceiling, as well as stating he will ignore Congress and use executive action to get what he wants. Most polls have had a clear liberal bias since well before the election, and this one is no different.

I have a CHL and carry all the time, everywhere I go. I can hunt with a rifle and I can hunt with a bow. I wear a black Resistol and boots. If you met me, you would probably want to shake my hand and chat me up about our socialist, Kenyan, Muslim president.

I'm a Liberal. Probably somewhat of a moderate liberal, but certainly more left than right.

I think there should be some common sense legislation pertaining to assault weapons and high capacity magazines. I think there should be stricter controls on background checks and gun sales.

Your theory is bogus.

Most of your liberal friends probably just bite their tongues to avoid confrontational conversation with you, because for some reason, they like you.

I know this because it's how I have to act around most of my friends, family and co-workers.

"The american people are getting fed up with the NRA Gun Thug Goons, threating them, like that NRA member, Wackoo Alex Jones, threating civil war."

Just as the tax payers are getting fed up with the thieving, lying, doublestandard, backstabbing constitutional trashing President and Govenment group he leads you mean? The only difference there is that there are less tax payers than there are non taxpayers!

Can ANYONE explain to me why the president, the congress, and their children deserve to have armed security wherever they are, but they will not even consider the same level of security for any of us or for our children????? THAT is TRUE inequality and class warfare, practiced by the one who is soooooooooo against it!

We do seem to miss those sort of things in this discussion if it ever involves the way the government treat themselves and treat us.

The president can ignore the constitution, (which he swore to defend and protect btw), pass executive orders effecting and infringing my rights, but his rights and his childrens rights.......oh they cant me touched, they NEED protecting, ther rest of us are just peeons and will just do as we are told........he and his ilk are special........Well I WANT protecting, protecting from an over bearing government with a "do as I say, not as I do" attitude!

I will give up my rights to self protection when the government do the same..until that point we are creating a two teir system, where they are special and we are the pond life. Lead by example Barry, you go first, give up your guards, both for you and your family, then tell me its the right thing to do!

"Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own." Jonathan Swift "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members." Groucho Marx

What? No. No. It can't be. All liberals are exactly the same. You must be talking about a video game when you say you can hunt. And if you don't hate our Kenyan Marxist Muslim president, then nothing you say carries any value anyway, since you obviously hate America.

The gun control hypocrites want to have it both ways. Obama is preaching gun control, but he provides armed security for his kids when they go to school. Control advocates want to remove guns from law-abiding citizens, but certainly want to keep "assault" weapons in the hands of the military and law enforcement, so they can continue to protect those same control advocates. So, they don't really want to remove guns, they just want to be able to pick and choose who has them. They defeat their own argument; it is not really guns that are the problem, it is the mentally deranged who use them. Even King Hussein won't provide any details about how he intends to define who has "mental problems" and keep guns out of their hands, his only solution is to take them away from everyone; well, except those who can protect him and his family.

First, I agree with anybody who says you oughta change your screen name. I can't know the extent of your faith or what kind of person you may be, but I do know that you've never shown an ounce of joy or love in your posts. I've only seen bitterness and small-minded meanness.

When I attended that bastion of liberalism at Abilene Christian University (before I transferred to LCU because Abilene kind of sucks) my political science professor, a deacon at his church, shocked everyone at the end of the semester by telling us he'd been a Democratic delegate for years. In a class with 20 something Republicans, 3 Democrats, and one independent (guess who?) no one would have guessed from the content of his class that he leaned any one direction at all. After he asked our affiliations on the last day before revealing his, he told us that if we didn't learn anything else that semester he hoped we could learn this: There are many good and decent Christians (and others, my observation) in both political parties. I attended that class with a smart, open-minded very nice conservative guy named Brantley Starr in 1998. His uncle Ken was prosecuting Bill Clinton at the time.

Mike Cope, a preacher, respected Christian author, and a fine man, taught my Bible class that semester. I started learning with him as my first example that in the two ultraconservative Christian private schools I attended that the Bible department was where the most open-minded, brilliantly intelligent people I've ever met. You'd probably freak out if I told you that a local Bible professor used to take students to attend a mosque once per semester, or that another used to let a homosexual couple babysit his kids before he moved to Lubbock.

Those are the kind of people who, in my opinion, bring people closer to God. Isn't that the point? I have no doubt that you, who advocate Christ in your screen name, would just as soon boot "rogue" Christians outta the fold as you would boot rogue, independent Texans outta Texas.

If you really think that any U.S. president could disarm us, you're too far gone. I don't understand why anyone would waste time arguing against paranoid delusions when there are so many legitimate issues to talk about. Enjoy being a miserable slave, I guess.

@madrid--It is ironic that the people tasked with teaching/advocating for cultural diversity are the most close-minded, biased professors on campus at TTU. I never attended a Christian run university because I expected them to employ not so open-minded individuals. Your post is enlightening.

Caesar Octavianus Augustus became the first Roman Emperor, because the Roman Republic freely granted him enormous, unprecedented powers.

Why did the Roman Republic do that? Why did it commit suicide to make way for a totalitarian empire? Was it mass insanity?

The historian Tacitus explains it thus: "Cuncta fessa". Which translates roughly as "The whole world is tired."

Weariness in the face of social and political insecurity is what led to Rome throwing away its rights and freedoms. FEAR induces a desire for authoritarianism in people. FEAR is a terribly poor adviser.

And now take a look around you: Our democratic system, with all of its flaws and glories, is also on the verge of of committing suicide.

Sometimes, all too often I would say, nations freely choose to throw themselves into the abyss.

1. “Issue a presidential memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.”

2. “Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.”

3. “Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.”

4. “Direct the attorney general to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.”

5. “Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.”

6. “Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.”

I grew up working on ranches as a cowboy and I trained horses for several years. I guess I earned my boots and hat which I have not worn in many years. I found other interests and moved on. Nothing wrong with wearing boots and a hat, but the "right" certainly does not have to be earned. If you like or enjoy them, wear 'em even if you are a liberal. If you don't, then don't wear 'em even if you are a conservative.

It is not the content of the Executive Orders, but the fact that he can get away with issuing them, making and altering Federal Law, LEGISLATING, exercising a power forbidden him by the Constitution, which is tantamount to suicide. And anyway, anyone who believes these 23 are the end of it is naive indeed.

The old Roman Republic would in times of emergency grant extraordinary powers to a leader nominated by the Senate, powers which made it possible for the leader to bypass Rome's unwritten Constitution, the "Mos Maiorum." These powers were to be valid for only six months, at the end of which time constitutional government would return.

The title of that nominated leader was "Dictator". It seems the Romans were more honest about such things than we are.

Then one day a legally nominated Dictator failed to lay down his powers at the end of this six month term. The era of the Republic was over, and the Empire had begun.